Glasgow's health board has been accused of “insanity”after it agreed to a fresh consultation on controversial hospital closure plans which have previously been rejected by the Scottish Government.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde yesterday voted to press ahead with further scrutiny of proposals which include shutting Lightburn Hospital in the city’s East End and a children’s ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

The cuts also include the closure of seven inpatient beds at the Centre for Integrative Care (CIC) and community maternity units at Inverclyde Royal and the Vale of Leven hospitals.

Read more: Future of Lightburn Hospital could rest with Scottish Government

The final decision on each of the plans could rest with the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Shona Robison, if they are deemed a “major” service change by the Scottish Government.

Plans to shut ward 15 of the Royal Alexandra Hospital were previously deemed a major change by the board and it has said that the plans for Lightburn meet the criteria.

However the board does not believe that the changes proposed for the CIC, which is Scotland’s only homeopathic hospital, and the community maternity units meet the criteria.

Opponents of the plans - which will contribute to a multi-million pounds savings target - yesterday questioned the need for further consultation.

Previous plans to shut Lightburn Hospital were overturned by the then Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in 2011 and her successor, Shona Robison has since voiced her opposition.

The current health secretary has also previously pledged her support for keeping ward 15 of the RAH open.

Read more: Future of Lightburn Hospital could rest with Scottish Government

Mark Macmillan, leader of Renfrewshire Council, said: “We have been told time and time again from government and multiple cabinet secretaries for health about the importance of local services and in fact the services we are talking about.

“The public have been told time and time again that the government does not support the downgrading of these services.

“We know that when it goes to the current cabinet secretary, she will reject these proposals because she has rejected them in the past on at least two election campaigns.

“It’s on public record, particularly the closure of ward 15.

“I’m all in favour of consultation but to consult again when we know what the answers will be, it could be described as the definition of insanity.”

However, the board’s director of planning Catriona Renfrew argues that the proposals now on the table are different to those that were consulted on previously and rejected by the Scottish Government and that current health strategy, particularly on elderly care, has“changed significantly.”

She says there is now greater clinical support for the plans, in particular for Lightburn Hospital, and insists they are not cost-driven.

She said: “It’s a different consultation.

“There are no decisions being made about services today. This is about getting out and hearing what the public and other organisations have to say.”

There was disappointment for campaigners fighting to save the inpatient beds at the CIC as they learned that the consultation process will be “more limited.”

Read more: Future of Lightburn Hospital could rest with Scottish Government

The board’s Chief Executive, Robert Calderwood, has suggested that patients requiring inpatient care could be treated in other hospitals.

Catherine Hughes, a patient, fears that transferring patients to other hospitals will “undermine” the treatment offered at the CIC.

She said: “The inpatient unit is an essential of the therapeutic process.”

Gerry McCann, part of the Save Lightburn Campaign said: “I’m hoping that Shona Robison will make the right decision but we are very sad that we are having to go through this again.”

What will the changes mean for patients?

The closure of Lightburn Hospital in Carntyne, with inpatient rehabilitative services transferred to Stobhill and Glasgow Royal Infirmary and outpatient services provided locally. The hospital has two 28-bed wards for elderly patients, a day hospital and also houses the local Parkinson’s support group.

The closure of ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley with emergency inpatients, elective and day care paediatric services transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children.

Birthing services closed at Vale of Leven Hospital and Inverclyde Royal Community with services transferred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Princess Royal Maternity Hospital and Queen Elizabeth University Hospital or at home. The board say efforts to increase the number of births at the CMUs have failed.

The closure of seven inpatient beds at the Centre for Integrative Care with outpatient and day case service continuing. The board say inpatient activity is “under utilised.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde say community representatives and campaigners will have the opportunity to make their views known when the consultation process is launched in September.

They will be invited to provide patients’ and carers’ perspective on the issues raised by the proposals and take part in workshops and other public events.

The findings of the consultation will be presented at the board’s meeting in December.